"WOW" is a series of annual compilation albums featuring contemporary Christian music dating from 1995.
Comprising songs submitted by each partner label, the annual WOW Hits releases are usually double CD sets.
[citation needed] Throughout its run, the WOW franchise evolved into one of the most successful collections of Christian music.
In November 1994, Cunningham made a business trip to EMI Limited in London, which at the time was the parent company of Sparrow Records.
Still today, after each submitting label agrees to a reduced master royalty, the final decision on the tracks to be included is made by committee.
Only one single disc was ever released, WOW Hits 1. in the spring of 2008, before reverting to the annual format.
The exception is WOW Gospel 2009 in which the United States of America was honored due to the previous year's election.
The first album features songs performed by the worship leaders who wrote them, including Darlene Zschech's "Shout to the Lord".
[32] After several years, it switched to a contemporary Christian music format, where CCM recording artists perform praise and worship songs in their style.
The focus of this series was to showcase favorite and well-known songs picked from the most recent years, and consists of the following albums: WOW Christmas is a series of compilation albums featuring Christmas music as recorded by contemporary Christian music artists.